'Get ready' for hurricane, governor tells Floridians

It's been ages seemingly since Florida was last whacked by a hurricane, and the worry stalking the Governor's Hurricane Conference this week at the Orange County Convention Center is that the state has let its guard down.

The conference theme this year is that Florida is paying less attention to the danger of tropical cyclones: "Unfortunately, as we Floridians have seen time and again, this denial is foolishly risky," conference organizers warned in their invitation to the 1,500 expected to attend.

Also pushing the message was Gov. Rick Scott, who, after signing a bill Monday to establish a tax holiday for hurricane supplies, emphasized the need for storm preparations by recounting how surprised and ill-equipped Pensacola residents were when struck by disastrous flooding late last month.

"Get ready," Scott said. "Hopefully we won't have a hurricane this year, but it's much better to be prepared."

The wide range of items eligible for tax-free purchases from May 31 to June 8 include portable, self-powered lights selling for $20 or less, tarpaulins for $50 or less and packages of common batteries for $30 or less.

Nearly a decade ago, the state was pummeled by hurricanes, including Charley, which hit Central Florida in 2004, and Wilma, which crossed South Florida in 2005 as Florida's last hurricane and as the nation's last storm that was a Category 3 or stronger.

One expert unable attend the gathering this year thinks Floridians have not improved as much as they need to in at least one aspect of hurricane response. "We really don't do that great a job of evacuating," said Jay Baker, a Florida State University professor who has studied evacuations since 1975.

People don't leave their homes because "they don't think they need to," including those in the most vulnerable areas, Baker said. "The problems that existed in 2004 and 2005 are still there to be solved in terms of making people aware of their vulnerability."

At the conference, however, there was confidence that the ability to deal with a hurricane has improved because of training and advances in technology.

There also will be more emergency responders on hand than a decade ago, said Emmett Titshaw, Florida National Guard adjutant general.

"We will have the fewest number of soldiers and airmen deployed overseas during this hurricane season than we have in the last 10 years," Titshaw said. "We'll also have the highest equipment rates."

Bryan Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said disaster miseries of other states have been important in keeping Florida on its toes.

"We continue to work with other states that have had disasters over the years and learn from the issues they've had," Koon said.